Water skier{40 s safety device

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses a water skier&#39;&#39;s safety device embodying the basic concept of providing a pivotally mounted flagpole on a deck which covers the bow portion of a water craft used in towing a skier and which flagpole normally lies substantially flat or parallel to the deck and which is raised to a vertical position by activating mechanism mounted on the transom of the boat. The activating mechanism consists essentially of a housing secured to the transom, an eyebolt passing through a hole in the transom having an eye to which one end of a skier&#39;&#39;s cable is attached, a spring abutment on said bolt within the housing, an expansion coil spring interposed between the transom and the abutment, and means at the end of the eyebolt within the housing to actuate mechanism on the bow deck for swinging the flagpole into raised position.

United States Patent [1 1 Young et a1.

[ 1 Nov. 12, 1974 1 WATER SKIERS SAFETY DEVICE 22 Filed: July 10,1972

21 Appl. No; 270,550

[52] US. Cl. 340/286, 116/132 [51] Int. Cl G08c 5/00 [58] Field ofSearch 116/28, 63, 35, 63 P, 114, 116/173, 174, 175, l32;43/16, 17;200/161,

340/127, 421, 138, 286 R, 286 T; 114/235 WS [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,262,365 4/1918 McDermott 340/127 2,774,325 12/1956Budde 116/173 X 3,091,757 5/1963 Brock 340/421 3,109,075 10/1963Ratcliff v 114/235 WS 3,273,552 9/1966 Plath v 200/161 3,479,982 11/1969Honcharenko", 116/35 R 3,520,273 7/1970 Daifotes 116/28 R Hayes H340/138 Penaflor 116/173 X Primary Examiner-Harold l. Pitts Attorney,Agent, or Firm-John A. Robertson [57] ABSTRACT This specificationdiscloses a water skiers safety device embodying the basic concept ofproviding a pivotally mounted flagpole on a deck which covers the bowportion of a water craft used in towing a skier and which flagpolenormally lies substantially flat or parallel to the deck and which israised to a vertical position by activating mechanism mounted on thetransom of the boat. The activating mechanism consists essentially of ahousing secured to the transom, an eyeholt passing through a hole in thetransom having an eye to which one end of a skiers cable is attached, aspring abutment on said bolt within the housing, an expansion coilspring interposed between the transom and the abutment, and means at theend of the eyebolt within the housing to actuate mechanism on the bowdeck for swinging the flagpole into raised position.

8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEL, mv 1 21914 3; 848,244

' SHEET HP 3 PATENTEL HOV 1 21974 SHEET 2 BF 3 FIE-5 v WATER SKIER'SSAFETY DEVICE takes the form of an hydraulic master cylinder which is'operatively connected to the eyebolt and a slave hydraulic cylindermounted on the deck and having a piston rod connected to a tongue on theshaft which pivotally mounts the flagpole. In a third embodiment, thismeans takes the form of a flexible push-pull cable, one end of which isconnected to the eyebolt and the other to the tongue on the pivotalmounting of the flagpole.

The present invention relates to water skiers safety devices and isconcerned primarily with such a device which is characterized by aflagpole which is pivotally mounted on a deck covering the bow portionof a craft used in towing a skier and which normally lies in a positionflat on or parallel to the deck and which is raised into a verticalposition by activating mechanism mounted on the transom of the boat towhich one end of a towline is secured and which is rendered effectivewhen tension on the towline is released as by'a skier falling into thewater.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At the present time, water skiing is a sportwhich is becoming more and more prevalent. A small powered water craftis ordinarily used to tow the skier and such a craft includes a transomat its stern and in most instances a deck covers the bow portion. Thetowing line is connected to the transom.

When a skier falls into the water, a perilous situation is created. Thecraft is ordinarily moving at a high speed and often in areas whereother skiers or watercraft are operating. To the end of achieving themaximum safety factor in advising others in the immediate area of thefact that the displaced skier is in the water, it ishighly importantthat a flag be immediately raised into a position in which it is readilyvisible to others in the area.

Inasmuch as skiers are ordinarily towed by small powered craft, thespace between the deck covering the bow portion and the hull is limitedand in many instances used for storage purposes. Thus, the desirabilityof providing a signal flag mounted on the end of a flagpole which ispivotally mounted on the deck is indicated as being preferable to aflagpole which is always maintained in a substantially vertical positionand which moves vertically into and out of its effective position.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing conditions in mind,.thepresent invention has in view the following objectives:

1. To provide a water skiers safety device that is mounted on a smallpowered watercraft including a transom and a deck which covers the bowportion of the boat and which includes as a characteristic and essentialelement a flagpole which is pivotally mounted on the deck and remains ina substantially flat position thereon when in an ineffective position,but which is raised to a vertical position when tension on a skierstowline connected to the transom is released.

2. To provide, in a water skiers safety device of the type noted, a flagraising mechanism including pivotally mounted flagpole which is biasedinto an upraised position by a spring and which is normally maintainedin an ineffective position by a solenoid operated latch which isconnected by wiring to an activating device on the transom.

3. To provide, in a water skiers safety device of the characteraforesaid, a flag raising device including a flagpole having ahorizontal pivot shaft at its lower end,

a tongue extending radially from said shaft, a push rod connected tosaid tongue and hydraulic means for acti' vating the push rod.

4. To provide, in a water skiers safety device of the kind described, aflag raising device in which the tongue on the pivot shaft for theflagpole is activated by a flexible push-pull cable.

5. To provide, in a water skiers safety device of the type noted,activating apparatus which is mounted on the transom and which includesas a characteristic and essential element a spring biased eyebolt whichis operatively connected to any of the flag raising devices aforesaid.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention,suchas arise in connection with carrying out the above ideas in apractical embodiment, will, in part, become apparent, and, in part, behereafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects are achieved by providinga water skiers safety device which is mounted on a small powered watercraft including a transom and a deck covered bow portion. The deviceconsists essentially of activating apparatus mounted on the transom andflag raising mechanism mounted on the deck. In the preferred form, theactivating mechanism comprises a housing that is secured to the innerface of the boat transom opposite to a passage therein which is lined bya grommet and a spring-biased eyebolt which passes through the grommetwith a seal being interposed between the eyebolt and grommet. A springabutment is mounted on the inner end of the eyebolt and this end of theeyebolt is operatively connected to the flag raising mechanism. Theeyebolt presents an eye or loop on the exterior of the transom to whichone end of a towline is connected. At a point spaced from this eye, thebolt is formed with a transverse passage which is adapted to receive alocking pin with the eyebolt extended for the purpose of maintaining theactivating mechanism inoperative.

In one embodiment, the flag raising mechanism comprises a rectangularshaped tray-like structure including a bottom, and end and side walls.Pivotally mounted between the side walls is a shaft having a springcoiled thereabout for biasing it rotatably in one direction. A

flagpole has one end drivably connected to the shaft and is normallymaintained in a notch formed in one of the end walls by a latch which isactuated by a solenoid. The solenoid is connected by wiring to a switchmounted in the housing on the boat transom which is open when tension isapplied to the eyebolt, but which is closed when this tension isreleased and the eyebolt is biased by its spring into position closingthe switch.

In a second embodiment, the flag raising mechanism comprises a housinghaving a top, and end and side walls, the lower ends of which areflanged and secured to the deck. A shaft is pivotally mounted betweenthese side walls and the lower end of the flag pole is connected to theshaft. One of the end walls of the housing is formed with a notch whichreceives the flagpole when the later is ineffective and the top wall hasa slot in alignment with this notch. Extending radially from this shaftis a tongue to which one end of a push rod is connected. The other endof the push rod is connected to an hydraulic slave cylinder on the deck.The slave cylinder is connected to a master cylinder on the transom bytubing and the master cylinder is rendered effective by a push rodconnected to the inner end of the eyebolt of the activating mechanism.

In a third embodiment, the flag raising mechanism is the same as thatabove described in connection with the second embodiment. However, thetongue on the shaft is connected to one end of an encased push-pullcable, the other end of which is operatively connected to the eyebolt ofthe activating apparatus on the transom.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, referencemay be had to the following description and the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating a small powered water craft withthe skiers safety device of this invention installed therein anddepicting the towing cable as being slack and the flag in an upraisedposition;

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the transom andactivating apparatus installed thereon and illustrating the parts inposition effecting raising of the FIG. 3 is a section similar to FIG. 2and depicting the parts in the position they assume when the flag isdepressed and held in this position by the locking pin;

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the flag raising mechanism of the firstembodiment per se;

FIG. 5 is a transverse longitudinal section of the flag raisingmechanism being taken on the plane of the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section through the flag raisingmechanism of the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustrating the hydraulic elements of thesecond embodiment in an exploded relation;

FIG. 8 is a perspective depicting the encased pushpull cable of thethird embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a detailed section through the transom illustrating how theactivating mechanism may be mounted on the upper edge thereof; and

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram for the flag raising mechanism of the firstembodiment.

DESCRIPTION PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings whereinlike reference characters denote corresponding elements throughout theseveral views, and first more particularly to FIG. 1, a small'poweredwater craft is illustrated therein as ineluding a transom 12 and a deck48 covering the bow projects beyond the outer face of transom 12 and isthreaded. A nut 16 is screwed onto this threaded portion and securesgrommet 15 in position. An eyebolt 2 includes a shank which passesthrough grommet IS with a tubular seal 14 being interposed between theshank and the grommet. The inner end portion of the eyebolt is threaded.

The activating apparatus is designated generally A an comprises anelongate housing 11 which is secured to transom 12 by screws 13 and 13'.An expansion coil spring 4 is disposed about the shank of eyebolt 2,with one end engaging the inner face of grommet I5, and the other end, aspring abutment in the form of a washer 19 which is also disposed aboutthe shank of eyebolt 2. A nut 20 holds washer 19 in position and nut 20is secured by lock nut 20'. Housing 11 includes an inner wall 8 formedwith an aperture 21. An electric switch 5 is mounted in this aperture 21by nuts 22 and 22'. Switch 5 includes a pair of terminals 24 which areconnected to wiring 23 which passes through an opening in the end wallof housing 11. Switch 5 includes a push button or plunger 50 and whenthis plunger is in the extended position of FIG. 3 the switch is open.However, when depressed by eyebolt 2, as shown in FIG. 2, switch 5 isclosed.

The shank of eyebolt 2 is formed with a transverse passage 25 whichreceives a locking pin 18 to hold the eyebolt in the position of FIG. 3.Locking pin 18 is maintained in assembled relation with respect totransom 12 by a tether in the form of a chain I7. As shown in FIG. I, atowing line 1 is secured to the eye of eyebolt 2.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, flag raising mechanismis identified in its entirety by the reference character B. It includesa casing comprising side walls 30, end walls 26 and a bottom 34 which isse cured to deck 48. A shaft 33 is rotatably mounted on side walls 30and secured in position by screws 35. One end wall 26 is formed with anotch. A flagpole 9 carries a flag 10 at one end and its inner end isdrivably connected to shaft 33. When in its ineffective position,flagpole 9 is received in the notch in end wall 26 and secured in thisposition by a latch 7.

A solenoid 6 is mounted on the wall structure and includes an armature28, one end of which is pivotally connected to latch 7. Latch 7 ispivotally mounted at 32 on bottom 34. An expansion coil spring 31 isinterposed between solenoid 6 and latch 7. This spring urges latch 7into the full line position designated 29 in FIG. 5 in which it engagesflagpole 9 to hold the latter in position. Wires 23 are connected tosolenoid 6 and when the latter is energized, armature 28 is retracted tomove the latch 7 into the broken line position 29' of FIG. 5.

A spring 27 is coiled about shaft 33 and has one end engaging bottom 34and the other end is secured to flagpole 9. Spring 34 biases flagpole 9into an upraised or effective position which is counteracted by latch 7.

While the operation of the embodiment described in FIGS. 1-5 inclusiveis believed to be obvious from the illustration of the drawings anddescription of parts set forth above, it is briefly described asfollows:

When the device is not in use, eyebolt 2 is extended against theinfluence of spring 4 and locking pin 18 inserted in passage 25, asillustrated in FIG. 3. When the device is to be used, this locking pin18 is removed and a towline l is secured to the eye of eyebolt 2. Whentension is applied to this line by a skier in tow, spring 4 iscompressed into the position of FIG. 3. However, should this tension bereleased as by the skier falling into the water, spring 4 urges theshank of eyebolt 2 into engagement with the plunger 50 of switch 5. Thiscloses the switch and completes the circuit to solenoid 6. As the latteris energized, latch 7 is drawn into the broken line position 29' of FIG.5, whereupon flagpole 9 is swung upwardly by spring 27. Thus, boaters inthe vicinity of the accident are alerted to the fact that a conditionperilous to the skier exists. Flagpole 9 is restored to its originalineffective position manually when switch is again opened.

DESCRIPTION SECOND EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 6and 7, the flag raising mechanism of the second embodiment is designatedgenerally B. It comprises a housing including a top wall, side walls andend walls formed with outturned flanges which are secured to deck 48 byscrews similar to screws 13 and 13. Journalled between the side walls ofthe housing is a shaft 33 to which one end of flagpole 9 is drivablyconnected as above described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS.4 and 5. One end wall of the housing is formed with a notch 51 whichreceives flagpole 9 when the latter is depressed. It is biased into thisdepressed position by a spring 27 which is substantially the same as thespring 27 of FIG. 4. Extending radially outwardly from shaft 33 is atongue 37 which assumes the full line position of FIG. 6 when flagpole 9is depressed as indicated by full lines, but which moves to the brokenline position when flagpole 9 is swung into a raised position. A pushrod 36 passes through an opening 38 formed in an end wall and carries apair of pins 39 which receive therebetween the tongue 37.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 7, rod 36 is shown as having theend remote from pin 39 received in an hydraulic slave cylinder 42, beingconnected to the piston of this cylinder in a well known manner. Slavecylinder 42 willordinarily be mounted in a position adjacent to housingB and a tubing 41 extends therefrom to a master hydraulic cylinder 40which will be mounted on the end wall of housing 11. In this embodiment,the switch 5 is omitted and the shank of eyebolt 2 is connected to thepiston of the hydraulic cylinder 40 in a well known manner.

In operation, the spring 27 of FIG. 6 biases the flagpole 9 into itsdepressed position shown in full lines in FIG. 6. A slot is formed inthe top of housing B in alignment with the notch 51. When tension ontowline l is released, spring 4 urges the shank of eyebolt 2 inwardly tobuild-up hydraulic pressure in master cylinder 40. This pressure istransmitted through tubing 41 to slave cylinder 42 to actuate rod 36 tomove tongue 37 from the full line position of FIG. 6 to the dottedlineposition 37 of FIG. 6. Thus, flagpole 9 is moved to the broken lineposition 9 of FIG. 6. When eyebolt 2 is extended, pressures in thecylinders 40 and 42 are relieved and spring 37 returns flagpole 9 to itsposition in notch 51.

DESCRIPTION THIRD EMBODIMENT FIG. 8 illustrates a third embodiment inwhich rod 36 is connected to one end of a flexible push-pull cable 43enclosed in a flexible casing 43. The cable 43 extends through theopening 21 in partition 8 and is anchored between nuts and 20 on eyebolt2.

In operation, when tension on the eyebolt 2 is re leased, spring 4 movesit inwardly to apply a thrust to cable 43' which is transmitted to rod36 and from the latter to tongue 37 to move the flagpole 9 into thevertical position as illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 illustrates an arrangement in which the activating mechanism Amay be mounted on the upper edge of transom 12. Thus, the activatingmechanism which is substantially the same as that illustrated in FIGS. 2and 3 is enclosed in a casing 52 from which depend a pair of ears 53 and54. A pad 44 is fixedly secured to the ear 53 and engages the outer faceof transom 12. A screw clamp 45 is threaded through ear 54 and carries ametallic pad 46 on its inner end which engages the inner face of transom12 to secure casing 52 in position.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates the wiring diagram for switch 5,solenoid 6, and wiring 23 and shows a power source such as the battery47 included in the latter.

While preferred specific embodiments are herein dis- 0 closed, it is tobe clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to theexact constructions, mechanisms and devices illustrated and describedbecause various modifications of these details may be provided inputting the invention into practice.

What is claimed is:

1. For installation on a small watercraft used to tow a safety devicecomprising activating apparatus mounted on said transom and flag raisingmechanism mounted on said deck, said activating mechanism comprising:

a. an eyebolt presenting an eye externally of said transom to which atowline is connected, and a shank extending inwardly of said transom;

b. a housing secured to said transom and receiving said shank, with theshank being reciprocal in the housing;

0. a spring abutment on said shank;

d. an expansion coil spring about said shank and interposed between saidtransom and said abutment, and

e. means on said housing engageable by said shank to render said flagraising mechanism operable;

said flag raising mechanism comprising:

f. a housing secured to said deck and presenting end and side walls;

g. a shaft rotatably mounted between said side walls;

h. a flagpole having one end drivably connected to said shaft andcarrying a flag at its other end, said flagpole being adapted to assumea substantially horizontal position along said deck or a verticalposition, and

i. operative connections between said means on the housing of saidactivating apparatus and said shaft to cause rotation of said shaft uponengagement of said means by the shank of said eyebolt to swing saidflagpole into a vertical position.

2. The waterskiers safety device of claim 1 in which the shank of saideyebolt is formed with a transverse passage spaced from the eye thereon,together with a lock pin secured to said transom by a tether and adaptedto be received in said passage to hold said shank against inwardmovement relative to said transom.

3. The water skiers safety device of claim 1 in which one of the endwalls of the housing of the flag raising mechanism is formed with anotch which receives said flagpole when the latter is in horizontalposition.

4. The water skiers safety device of claim 1 in which the means on thehousing of the activating apparatus takes the form of a normally openelectric switch, together with a spring on said shaft tending to rotatesaid shaft in a direction raising said flagpole, a latch on the end wallformed with a notch engaging said flagpole when the latter is in thenotch to maintain it therein, a

solenoid operatively connected to said latch, and wiring connecting saidsolenoid to said switch.

5. The water skiers safety device of claim 3 in which a tongue extendsradially from said shaft, the end wall opposite to that formed with anotch having an opening therein, a push rod passing through said openingand having one end operatively connected to said tongue to rotate saidshaft when pressure is applied to said push rod, and an hydraulic slavecylinder connected to the other end of said push rod, and in which themeans on the housing of the activating apparatus takes the form of amaster hydraulic cylinder connected to said slave cylinder by a tubing.

6. The water skiers safety device of claim 3 in which a tongue extendsradially from said shaft, the end wall of the housing of the flagraising mechanism opposite to that formed with a notch is formed with anopening. a push rod passing through said opening and having one end inoperative engagement with said tongue, an an encased flexible cablehaving one end connected to said push rod with the means on the housingofthe activating apparatus taking the form of a connection between theother end of said flexible cable and the shank of said eyebolt.

7. The water skiers safety device of claim 1 in which the transom isformed with a passage about which the housing of the activatingmechanism is mounted, to gether with a grommet lining said passage and aseal in the form of a sleeve interposed between the shank of the eyeboltand said grommet.

8. The water skiers safety device of claim 1 in which said activatingapparatus is mounted on the upper edge of said transom.

1. For installation on a small watercraft used to tow a water skier andincluding a transom at the stern end and a deck covering the bow portionof said watercraft, a safety device comprising activating apparatusmounted on said transom and flag raisiNg mechanism mounted on said deck,said activating mechanism comprising: a. an eyebolt presenting an eyeexternally of said transom to which a towline is connected, and a shankextending inwardly of said transom; b. a housing secured to said transomand receiving said shank, with the shank being reciprocal in thehousing; c. a spring abutment on said shank; d. an expansion coil springabout said shank and interposed between said transom and said abutment,and e. means on said housing engageable by said shank to render saidflag raising mechanism operable; said flag raising mechanism comprising:f. a housing secured to said deck and presenting end and side walls; g.a shaft rotatably mounted between said side walls; h. a flagpole havingone end drivably connected to said shaft and carrying a flag at itsother end, said flagpole being adapted to assume a substantiallyhorizontal position along said deck or a vertical position, and i.operative connections between said means on the housing of saidactivating apparatus and said shaft to cause rotation of said shaft uponengagement of said means by the shank of said eyebolt to swing saidflagpole into a vertical position.
 2. The water skier''s safety deviceof claim 1 in which the shank of said eyebolt is formed with atransverse passage spaced from the eye thereon, together with a lock pinsecured to said transom by a tether and adapted to be received in saidpassage to hold said shank against inward movement relative to saidtransom.
 3. The water skier''s safety device of claim 1 in which one ofthe end walls of the housing of the flag raising mechanism is formedwith a notch which receives said flagpole when the latter is inhorizontal position.
 4. The water skier''s safety device of claim 1 inwhich the means on the housing of the activating apparatus takes theform of a normally open electric switch, together with a spring on saidshaft tending to rotate said shaft in a direction raising said flagpole,a latch on the end wall formed with a notch engaging said flagpole whenthe latter is in the notch to maintain it therein, a solenoidoperatively connected to said latch, and wiring connecting said solenoidto said switch.
 5. The water skier''s safety device of claim 3 in whicha tongue extends radially from said shaft, the end wall opposite to thatformed with a notch having an opening therein, a push rod passingthrough said opening and having one end operatively connected to saidtongue to rotate said shaft when pressure is applied to said push rod,and an hydraulic slave cylinder connected to the other end of said pushrod, and in which the means on the housing of the activating apparatustakes the form of a master hydraulic cylinder connected to said slavecylinder by a tubing.
 6. The water skier''s safety device of claim 3 inwhich a tongue extends radially from said shaft, the end wall of thehousing of the flag raising mechanism opposite to that formed with anotch is formed with an opening, a push rod passing through said openingand having one end in operative engagement with said tongue, an anencased flexible cable having one end connected to said push rod withthe means on the housing of the activating apparatus taking the form ofa connection between the other end of said flexible cable and the shankof said eyebolt.
 7. The water skier''s safety device of claim 1 in whichthe transom is formed with a passage about which the housing of theactivating mechanism is mounted, together with a grommet lining saidpassage and a seal in the form of a sleeve interposed between the shankof the eyebolt and said grommet.
 8. The water skier''s safety device ofclaim 1 in which said activating apparatus is mounted on the upper edgeof said transom.